| Founded in 1961, WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature) is the largest international, private nature conservation organization in the world. Based in Switzerland, WWF has national affiliates and associate organizations on five continents. WWF works to conserve the natural environment and ecological processes essential to life on Earth. |
| WWF aims to create awareness of threats to the natural environment, to generate and attract on a worldwide basis the strongest moral and financial support for safeguarding the living world, and to convert such support into action based on scientific priorities. Since 1961, WWF has channeled over U.S. $130 million into more than 5000 projects in some 130 countries, which have saved animals and plants from extinction and helped to conserve natural areas all over the world. It has served as a catalyst for conservation action, and has brought its influence to bear on critical conservation needs by working with and influencing governments, private organizations, scientists, industry, and the general public. |
| Founded in 1948, IUCNThe World Conservation Union brings together states, government agencies, and a diverse range of private organization in a unique world partnership: some 680 members in all, spread across 111 countries. |
| As a union, IUCN exists to serve its membersto represent their views on the world stage and to provide them with the concepts, strategies, and technical support they need to achieve their goals. Through its six commissions, IUCN draws together over 5000 expert volunteers in project teams and action groups. A central secretariat coordinates the IUCN program and leads initiatives on the conservation and sustainable use of the world's biological diversity and the management of habitats and natural resources, as well as providing a range of services. IUCN has helped many countries prepare national conservation strategies, and demonstrates the application of its knowledge through the field projects it supervises. Operations are increasingly decentralized and are carried forward by an expanding network of regional and national offices, located principally in developing countries. |
| Above all, IUCN seeks to work with its members to achieve development that is sustainable and that provides a lasting improvement in the quality of life for people all over the world. |
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